It’s the question that any Hawks fan – and probably its franchise player – would like an answer to.
When is this team going to actually win?
General manager Landry Fields had the microphone Friday evening at a news conference at State Farm Arena to address the team’s trade-deadline moves when the question was asked. This was his answer in full:
“I will always sit up here and tell you we’re always building. Even if we’re coming off a championship, you always have to evolve. If you don’t, you’ll slide into irrelevance. I truly believe that. For me and for the group that I represent in this franchise, I will always sit up here and say we’re always thinking about what’s the next best thing, regardless of the results or outcomes that we experienced before.”
It was a quintessential Fields punt – a high-hanging, 74-word beauty.
The nonanswer could be read to mean “I don’t know” or “It’s going to be longer than fans want to hear” or “I’m not going to say because then I’ll be held accountable to it.”
To bring up that the Hawks will not slide into irrelevance if they win a championship when a) they have never reached the NBA finals, let alone won it, since arriving in Atlanta in 1968; b) they’ve long been the picture of non-competing irrelevance – that was an interesting approach to take.
Regardless, about five hours later, star guard Trae Young sat in the same spot where Fields had equivocated. The face of the franchise had led the Hawks to a 115-110 win over Milwaukee with 24 points and seven assists, overcoming a 21-point deficit.
In this singular season of his, it was an entirely typical game – after the game, he was averaging 23.3 points and a league-leading 11.4 assists. He was asked a gentler version of the one that Fields had danced around – what message would Young have for fans who’ve stuck with this team through thick and thin?
Young smiled, stroked his beard, looked down and said, “That’s a great question.” Whether he actually thought that highly of the question or was just buying time to figure out a way to best frame his thoughts is debatable.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I mean, the message towards the fans? For me, I’m going to keep battling. If you really are a Hawk fan, I feel like you’ll keep battling with me and keep battling with this team.”
It was a smart answer. It seemed genuine. It recognized that the Hawks were 24-28, only a few days removed from an eight-game losing streak. It was typical of how Young has addressed such matters with media when it would be understandable for him to be more forthright in questioning when Fields will assemble a more competitive roster around him.
But the question remains: when are better days going to show up for this perpetually ordinary franchise?
There were signs that the Hawks could take a step forward this season after last year’s 36-46 mark. They were 22-19 at the season’s halfway point. It was their best record after 41 games since the 2016-17 season.
But a season-ending shoulder injury to forward Jalen Johnson, who was having a breakout season in his fourth season, helped send the team into a tailspin. After the win over the Bucks Friday and before their Saturday game at Washington, the Hawks were 2-9 since the midway point. And at the trade deadline Thursday, the Hawks traded forward De’Andre Hunter, who was thriving as a sixth man, and guard Bogdan Bogdanovic.
What looked hopeful a month ago now only looks muddled.
Here’s the optimistic picture. Fields has assembled an athletic young core in Johnson (23), first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher (20 in April), defensive menace Dyson Daniels (22 in March) and center Onyeka Okongwu (24) along with Young, who at 26 is hitting his peak years.
Trading Hunter and the fan favorite Bogdanovic were difficult decisions, but Hunter has had trouble staying healthy and may never hold more value than he has achieved this season.
Acquired for Bogdanovic from the Clippers, Terance Mann is four years younger (28) and, while not his equal as a shooter, is a capable ballhandler and a better defender. The players netted from sending Hunter to Cleveland – wing Caris LeVert and forward Georges Niang – are older than Hunter (30 and 31, respectively) but bring versatility (LeVert), shooting (Niang) and leadership (both).
(The last point is not insignificant. I asked an NBA scout after the trades about LeVert and Niang, and the first thing he mentioned was that they are both great teammates and people. That matters highly to Fields.)
Further, LeVert is in the last year of his contract. If the Hawks decide they don’t need him, it would offer them more salary cap flexibility.
In an ideal world for the Hawks, players like Risacher and Daniels will follow the examples of veterans like Niang and Mann and develop into stars who can support Young.
There are signs of progress. The trade of Dejounte Murray for Daniels (after the failed experiment to pair Murray with Young) could scarcely have worked out better. Not only is Daniels an elite defender, but his offensive game has improved markedly working with Hawks coaches. Johnson was taking another step before his shoulder injury. It’s early, but Risacher looks promising. Mann may be an undervalued piece in the same way Daniels was.
It’s a plausible scenario. But it’d be nice if it actually took hold, even in the remaining games of this season.
It’s far easier to keep battling and stick with the team – the fans or Young himself – when there’s a vision and clear evidence of progress.
Friday, Fields was asked about the recent elevation of Okongwu to the starting lineup ahead of veteran Clint Capela. Fields said the change was made due to a desire to adjust style of play that fit Okongwu’s skillset better.
“And you know, kudos to him,” Fields said. “He’s been doing well, but, ultimately, you’ve got to win at the end of the day.”
Yes, you do. And after Friday’s win, in Fields’ 2 ½ seasons in charge of the roster, the Hawks were 101-115.
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